Don't have Adobe Illustrator or other applications at home? Here are a few that you can download to become more proficient using the computer to create digital artwork. Ask permission from your parents prior to downloading the software to your computer. All of the software packages are free. (Yeah teachers, an alternative to assign homework)
Inkscape is an open source drawing tool that uses the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) scalable vector graphics format (SVG). Some supported SVG features include basic shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, and grouping. In addition, Inkscape supports Creative Commons' metadata, node-editing, layers, complex path operations, text-on-path, text-in-shape, and SVG XML editing. It also imports several formats like EPS, PostScript, JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TIFF and exports PNG as well as multiple vector-based formats.
http://inkscapetutorials.wordpress.com/ (Click on the download inkscape button in the upper right hand corner. When you get to the page find your computer platform and download.)
Pencil is an animation/drawing software for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. It lets you create traditional hand-drawn animation (cartoon) using both bitmap and vector graphics. Pencil is free and open source.
http://www.pencil-animation.org/
Gimp is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks asphoto retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages. (more...)